Thermodynamic carbon pump: an account paper of CO2 adsorption in low and medium-temperature

As carbon capture and storage (CCS) emerges as a critical technological pathway for achieving global climate targets, the field faces pressing challenges in advancing systematic frameworks for cross-system evaluation and optimization. While CCS technologies demonstrate growing potential in mitigating industrial CO₂ emissions, prevailing research remains fragmented across case-specific analyses with limited theoretical integration. A critical gap persists in establishing universal thermodynamic benchmarks for energy efficiency assessment and renewable integration potential - challenges that demand coordinated scholarly attention. This study presents the thermodynamic carbon pump (TCP) framework as a foundational paradigm for structuring the CCS research agenda. Developed through systematic inquiry since 2014, the TCP framework introduces three pivotal conceptual advancements: unified thermodynamic metrics quantifying system-level energy conversion boundaries, analytical tools mapping performance optimization trajectories across adsorption-based systems, and integrative pathways for renewable energy synergies and resource recovery mechanisms. By transcending traditional case-by-case approaches, our framework enables comparative evaluation of capture systems while revealing critical interdependencies between process thermodynamics, renewable integration, and circular economy potentials. The implications of this research extend beyond technical optimization to inform three emerging research frontiers in CCS development: First, establishing standardized benchmarking protocols for cross-technology assessment. Second, developing adaptive integration models for intermittent renewable energy sources. Third, creating lifecycle assessment methodologies incorporating resource recovery economics. These research vectors collectively form an actionable agenda for advancing CCS systems toward industrial scalability and net-zero alignment. Our findings ultimately advocate for paradigm-shifting research strategies that bridge thermodynamic fundamentals with sustainable systems engineering in carbon management.